'Keeping the taxpayer’s interest at the forefront': The Biden administration passed on an opportunity to buy oil to replenish the strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) on Tuesday, citing high prices, according to Bloomberg News. The Department of Energy (DOE) decided against purchasing up to 3 million barrels to replenish the SPR, which President Joe Biden drained ahead of the 2022 midterm elections as soaring gas prices caused a political headache for Biden and his fellow Democrats, according to Bloomberg News.